Transportable Folding Diaper Changing Station

ABSTRACT

The current invention is a mobile diaper changing station. The changing station has a made of a lightweight frame of either hard plastic or hollow metal tubes. The changing surface is a mesh sheet, which is detachable for easy cleaning. The changing station is folding, with multiple panels and legs, all folding down to fit into the outside pocket of a standard diaper bag.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY)

None.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to transportable infant care accessories and particularly diaper changing stations.

2. Description of Prior Art

Any caregiver of an infant faces many responsibilities. Infant care requires regularly checking for safety and health concerns, while also feeding, cleaning up after, and changing diapers of the infant. While caring for an infant, other regular tasks must still be completed. A diaper bag is a regular accessory of parents. This allows for diapers, food, toys, and other supplies to be carried along to chores away from home. Diaper changing can remain a challenge in many areas. Some family-oriented businesses have diaper changing stations in restrooms, and many parents will change diapers in a personal vehicle.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is a collapsible and easily carried diaper changing station.

The diaper changing station consists of a frame with multiple folding panels and mesh netting. There are 4 support legs, which also fold in with the frame. When folded, the entire changing station would fit in the outside pocket of a standard diaper bag.

The frame is a light-weight, hard, durable material, such as hard plastic or hollow metal tubing. The frame consists of 4 support legs (one on each side) and an external frame. The legs can be fixed length or extending.

The resting surface of the changing station would be mesh. The mesh allows the infant to be lower than the outer frame, to reduce risk of rolling off. The mesh can be detached for easy cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the changing station in the fully folded position;

FIG. 2 shows the changing station with the frame unfolded and the legs folded;

FIG. 3 shows the changing station entirely unfolded;

FIG. 4 shows the changing station from above;

FIG. 5 shows the side of the changing station;

FIG. 6 shows below the changing station

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the current invention is a collapsible and easily carried diaper changing station 1.

The diaper changing station 1 consists of a frame 10 with multiple folding panels (A, B, C) and mesh netting 30. There are 4 support legs 50, which also fold in with the frame on hinges 60. When folded, as shown in FIG. 1, the entire changing station 1 would fit in the outside pocket of a standard diaper bag.

The frame 10 is made of a light-weight, hard, durable material, such as hard plastic or hollow metal tubing. The frame 10 consists of 4 support legs (50, 55) (one on each side) and an external frame. The legs 50, 55 can be fixed length or extending length.

The resting surface of the changing station would be mesh 30. The mesh 30 allows the infant to be lower than the outer frame, to reduce risk of rolling off. The mesh 30 can be detached for easy cleaning and have small enough holes as to properly support the body of a baby. The resting surface may have straps 65 for safety. The mesh 30 could be made to be removable with snaps or buttons so that it is easy to wash.

The dimensions in the preferred embodiment is first section A) 8 inches by 12 inches, B) 10 inches by 12 inches and C) 8 inches by 12 inches. The outer legs 50 would be “U” shaped inches by 10 inches, the inner legs 55 would be “U” shape 8 inches by 8 inches and the frame 10 collapse down to be 10 inches by 12 inches. Sections A and C are connected to Section B with hinges 60. Section A and C fold on top of Section B. This would fit the outer pocket of the diaper bag, so that it does not touch anything inside. The outer legs 50 would be located on the end side of Sections A and C and would fold into their corresponding section when collapsing as shown in FIG. 2. The inner legs 55 would be both located on Section B on the sides. The inner legs 55 would fold into Section B for collapsing. A user would collapse the legs into the Sections and then fold the Sections together. The legs (50, 55) would swivel on the frame 10.

The legs (50, 55) would have the bottom of the “U” would provide the support with the ground or other surface and could be covered with a rubber or other similar material sleeve 51.

In an addition embodiment, the frame legs can also be extended from 8 inches to 14 inches (can add an additional 6 inches) to have the child higher off the ground.

Advantages

The innovative diaper changing station allows a user to have greater flexibility in where an infant can be comfortable for a diaper change. The light-weight and folding design allows anyone with a standard sized diaper bag to carry their own diaper changing station. This frees parents from searching for restrooms with a changing station or using whatever surfaces are available. This mobile changing station will allow easy, safe, and comfortable changing anywhere regardless of the ground conditions, providing a flat surface for changing during hikes or providing a clean surface above the floor of a bathroom without a changing station.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A foldable changing station device comprising: Having a frame with a plurality of section where each section is connected to one or more other sections with a hinging means, where a plurality of legs are attached to said sections by a pivoting means where the legs fold into the section it is attached to and the sections fold into each other and having a mesh changing station attached to the frame.
 2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: having legs be “U” shape.
 3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: Where the legs are extendable.
 4. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: Having three sections.
 5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: Having outer and inner legs.
 6. The device according to claim 5 further comprising: Having the outer legs connect to outer ends of the Section.
 7. The device according to claim 5 further comprising: Having the inner legs connect to sides of the Section.
 8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: where the legs have sleeves covering the bottom. 